Shoe



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Filed July 1922 Patented dan.` 3, 1924i.

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SHOE.

@Imation filed July 22, 1922. Serial No. 576,739.

To all to/wm t muy colmar/i:

Be it known that l, Axnunw L. ZnuN, a citizen of the lfnited States, i residing at Philadelphia, yin the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in b'hoes, of which the following is a specitication.

My invention relates to shoes, andthe object is to provide an iniproved construction which will permit easy and quick removal of the shoe without unfastening it at the front.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attainin the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in Which- Figure 1 is a rear elevation ot' a shoe constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation,

Figure 3 is a rear elevation with the shoe open,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a counter-stiffener.

In the drawings, 1() designates a shoe having a lower 11 and upper quarters 12. 'lhe quarters 12 areprovided with flaps 13 secured by suitable fastening 14, preferably lacing. The shoe is provided with a lining 15 and a counter-still'ener 16 at the heel between the leather of the lower and lining 15. This counter-stiffener has a bottom flange 17 by Which it is fastened. The back of the counter-stiffener is cnt out in substantially V-shaped formation to provide a notch 18 which preferably has a concave crotch portion and oppositely flaring sides.

The quarters 12 of the upper are separated at the rear as well as at the front, the rear separation or opening 1S)V being on a vertical line with the back seam 2O of the lower, and the opposed ends of the upper quarters may abut as shown more particularly in Figure 4 of the drawings. A Hap 21 is secured outside the rear end of one of the quarters 12, as by stitching 22, and overlaps tlie inside quarter as indicated at 23. The part 23 is loose or free but adapted to be connected to the inside quarter 12 by means of quick detachable fasteners such as-ball and socket or snap fastenings 24 having co-acting parts carried by the ldap and inner quarter. A strip 25 is provided centrally at the back of the upper for reinforcement and ornamentation. i

In practice, a shoe constructed in accordance with the invention may be ut on the foot by opening fastening 14 at t e front or by unfastening the quarters at the back.

as the counter-stiffener would otherwise tend.v

to bind at the heel, but when so constructed permits spreading and leaves the heel of the lower soft and pliable at this point.

wWhile the shoe is especially designed te, be worn by track walkers and workmen around railroad yards, so that if the heel get-s caught in the track or a frog, theI 'foot may be pulled loose and out of the shoe to avoid injury o'r accidents, it is to be understood that the shoe is adapted for general use.

Vhile I have described my inventionv as taking a particular form, it willbe understood that the various partsof my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that l' am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope'of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention., what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A shoe having its quarters separated in the rear, `and having a counter-stiffener which has a notch in its upper rear edge beneath said separation; a flap fastened to the rear' of one quarter and overlying the other quarter; and quickly detachable fastening means between the set-ond quarter andthe overlying part of the flap, said notch with. the pliable shoe material covering it renderinnr the heel pliable at thisv point and facilitating spreading of the upper and removal of the foot.

2. A shoe having a lower with a counterstiffener which has a substantially V-shaped nmnh in its upper rear edge, said notch and the mitgeial of said lower permittin spread of the uppsi side of said sti ener and ieodorng the fem' of the upper pliable at this point; upper quarters open at the front and the bock; lacing connecting the front of th@ quarters; a Hap connected to the rear 'aoe of one of the quarters to ovrlie the other quzirtor; snap fasteners for connecting the i'ap t@ the last-named quarter; and. a, re-

inforcng strip at the back of the flap con# 10 nected to the lower.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ANDREW L. ZERN. Witnessos:

ELIZABETH GARBE, CHAS. E. Po'r'rs. 

